Influence of X-Ray Solar Flare Radiation on Degradation of Teflon in Space

Tee on ® samplesretrieved after exposurein orbit on the Long Duration Exposure Facility and on thesolar array of the Hubble Space Telescope were subjected to mechanical, infrared, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic testing. Testing wasalso performed on virgin samplesexposed to atomicoxygen, vacuum ultraviolet radiation, and soft x-ray radiation. Comparison of the measured mechanical and spectroscopic properties of the samples and analysis of theexposure environmentof the two missions showthat thelow-energy part ofthe x-ray radiation from the solar e ares plays a major role in the degradation of Tee on in space. Vacuum ultraviolet, atomic oxygen, and equivalent sun-hour exposure are not correlated to the observed degradation in bulk material properties.